Winemaker of the Year Award winner announced

Winemaker Richard Batchelor of Washington’s Maryhill Winery earned the 2019 Winemaker of the Year trophy at the annual Indy International Wine Competition, held May 22-23 at Purdue University. The award is given to the winery and winemaker that win the most gold medals by brand at the competition; this marks the third time in seven years that Batchelor has won the trophy. The competition is the largest independently organized wine competition in the country, drawing nearly 2,000 entries from 14 countries and 40 states.

This year, Maryhill took home the following top honors:

• Best of Class, 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Grenache
• Best of Class, 2016 Elephant Mountain Marvell GSM
• Best of Class, 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Merlot
• Best of Class, 2016 Petite Sirah, Art Den Hoed
• Best of Class, 2017 Viognier
• Best of Class, 2016 Zinfandel
• Double Gold, 2018 Proprietor’s Reserve Albarino
• Double Gold, 2016 Elephant Mountain Cabernet Franc
• Double Gold, 2017 Chardonnay
• Double Gold, 2016 McKinley Springs Cinsault
• Double Gold, 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Grenache
• Double Gold, 2016 Elephant Mountain Marvell GSM
• Double Gold, 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Merlot
• Double Gold, 2016 Elephant Mountain Merlot
• Double Gold, 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Serendipity
• Double Gold, 2017 Winemaker’s White
• Double Gold, 2016 Zinfandel

Receiving a total of 61 medals, Maryhill was honored with 6 Best of Class, 11 Double Golds, 17 Gold, 19 Silver, and 8 Bronze medals.

Maryhill Winery, based in Goldendale, is owned and operated by Craig and Vicki Leuthold, who are proud to offer award-winning wines at an affordable price.

“We are so delighted that Richard continues to be recognized for the success he achieves year after year at Maryhill,” said Craig Leuthold. “This award is an enormous accomplishment for Richard and team, and yet is another testament to the quality of wines produced in Washington state.”

Batchelor, a native New Zealander, came to Maryhill in 2009 from Napa Valley. Throughout his tenure at Maryhill Winery, Batchelor and his team have developed a winemaking portfolio that sources from nearly every major American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Washington.

Next for Maryhill: Seattle Area

With so many accolades under its belt, Maryhill is already gearing up for its third satellite tasting room in Woodinville, Wash., which will be more than double the size of its Vancouver tasting room which opened last month. Located just 30 minutes northeast of Seattle, Woodinville Wine Country is home to more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms representing every appellation in Washington. Maryhill Winery will occupy nearly 10,000 square feet of Woodinville’s historic Hollywood Schoolhouse, a beloved landmark since its construction by the Derby School District in 1912. The building has been everything from a school to a dance hall to a roller-skating rink. The Hollywood Schoolhouse has been restored to its turn-of-the century style, down to the grand ballroom’s hardwood floors, antique bar and brick fireplace. The anticipated opening of Maryhill’s tasting room at the Hollywood Schoolhouse is early winter 2019.